UK Defence Industrial Strategy - Trouble Ahead!

Bird & Bird's International Aerospace, Defence and Security Group would like to invite you to a seminar titled 'UK Defence Industrial Strategy - Trouble Ahead!' on Thursday 16 June 2011 from 08.00.

Against a backdrop of significant fiscal austerity plus uncertainty over future capability requirement it seems that further consolidation and international partnership in the defence industry will be an inevitable consequence. In the UK concern over long term commitment to industry from a government that appears content to not only reduce programme risk but to expound virtues of free and open competition would suggest that industry has already reached yet another of those significant crossroads. Cuts in our armed forces, in the structure of defence procurement and in capability have led to a much needed wind of change blowing through the whole process of procurement management. Set against some of the most radical cuts in planned defence expenditure since the Defence White Papers of 1957 and 1966 the message is that industry will now need to stand up for itself. Cuts will undoubtedly force change and while defence markets are no longer growing they are already consolidating. This presentation looks at the options for industry and the potential for further industry consolidation. We look not only at the recent history but at the future rationale and finally we provide a view of how we might envisage industry reshaping over the next few years.

We hope you will be able to join us.

For further information, or to register to attend this seminar please contact the Events Team at events@twobirds.com or call +44 (0)20 7415 6000.